More Science Matters

From space the view of the Earth is simply mesmerizing. As beautiful as our blue marble is the history of events on Earth are not always so. Humanity has often struggled to understand itself and thus clashes have erupted over cultural differences, struggles of resources and varying ideologies. Here in the United States of America one of our biggest issues has been regarding our views on race.

The total solar eclipse on Monday, August 21 will be the first total solar eclipse in 99 years. This extraordinary cosmic spectacle will pass through 13 states, and everyone in the continental U.S. will have the opportunity to see at least a partial eclipse, making it the most widely viewed American eclipse of all time. Commencing at 10:15 a.m. PDT (1:15 p.m. EDT), a lunar shadow 73 miles wide will take one hour and 33 minutes to travel from Oregon on the west coast to South Carolina on the east, allowing continuous observation for 90 minutes.

Jim Calpin will go to great lengths to be in the dark. He will drive from Chesterfield County to South Carolina with his wife and grandchildren to experience a total eclipse of the sun August 21.

This is no ordinary eclipse, if there is such a thing. It will be the first time in 99 years that a solar eclipse has stretched from coast to coast across the continental United States. The center of the sun's shadow cast by the moon will enter the U.S. in Oregon, race diagonally across 14 states and exit over the Atlantic Ocean at Charleston, S.C.

With the total eclipse of the sun sweeping through 14 states on August 21st, University of Virginia Astronomer Ed Murphy is preparing to witness his third. Murphy talks with WCVE’s Charles Fishburne about what to expect and why being in the “path of totality,” is so important.